Machine for simultaneously rotating and axially advancing logs



April 8, 1958 R E. RAMSDELL ETAL MACHINE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY ROTATING ANDAXIALLY ADVANCING LOGS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 28, 1.954

INVENTORS 1 055? 7' R/7M5DELL GEORGE WLUCKM/I/V nited States atent CMACHINE FUR SIMULTANEOUSLY ROTATING AND AXIALLY ADVANCING LOGS Robert E.Ramsdell and George W. Luekman, Spooner, Wis, assignors, by direct andmesne assignments, to George E. Aldrich, Woodland Hills, Calif., andMabel G. La Brash, New Richmond, Wis.

Application July 28, 1954, Serial No. 446,234

3 Claims. (Cl. 144--208) Our invention relates to improvements inmachines for peeling bark from logs.

Ourmachine, the subject matter of this application, has been especiallydesigned for use in removing bark from a small log, commonly called astick, to be cut into lengths for fence posts and other objects.

An object of this invention is to provide novel means for impartingcompound endwise and rotary movements to a log on rolls at a variablespeed.

A further object of this invention is to provide novel means for guidinga log being moved endwise and rotated on rolls.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following description,reference being had to the drawings:

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the noveldevices and combination of devices hereinafter described and defined inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, likecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan of the improved barkpeeling machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan on a reduced scale of the bed of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in horizontal longitudinal section taken on the line 44of Fig. 2;

Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical transverse sections as taken on the lines 55and 66 of Fig. 1, respectively;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation of the log-infeed side of one of thecutters on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation of the log-outfeed side of the same;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section and frontelevation of the cutter shown in Figs. 7 and 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail plan of the machine bed and a logthereon;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detail view of the frame and the rear endportion of the supporting arm of one of the rotors; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section that shows afront elevation of the latch for each lever 4-0 and 71 that appear inthe side elevation of Figs. 5 and 6, respectively, except that therelationship of certain parts has been reversed.

The bed of the machine includes a long rectangular horizontal main frame11 made of two side bars 12 and a plurality of crosstie bars 13 rigidlyconnecting the side bars. Each bar 12 and 13 is, as shown, an angle bar.An upright secondary frame 14 extends longitudinally over anintermediate portion of the rear side bar 12 and is fixed thereto.

Further included in the bed of the machine are three groups of smoothand polished rolls 15, 16 and 17 that extend transversely of the frame11. The rolls 15 and 16 are long and located at the front and rear endpor- 2,829,687 Patented Apr. 8, 1958 tions of the frame 11,respectively. The group of rolls 15 include a tapered roll 15 for apurpose later described. Rolls 17 are short and located between the twogroups of rolls 15 and 16. The rolls 15 and 16 are journaled in bearings18 fixed to the side bars 12 and the rolls 17 are journaled in bearings19 fixed to the front side bar 12 and a longitudinally extending anglebar 20 fixed at its ends to two of the crosstie bars 13.

A plurality of upright guide rolls 21 are each journaled on a shaft 22fixed at its lower end to the front side bar 12. These guide rolls 21are spaced substantially the full length of the side bar 12. Logs, shownin vertical transverse section in Figs. 5 and 6, and longitudinallyfragmentarily in Fig. 10 and designated by the letter x, are movedendwise and rotated on the rolls 15, 16 and 17, as will presentlyappear, and held for straight-line endwise movement against the guiderolls 21 by, as shown, three upright pressure rolls 23. Each of thesepressure rolls 23 is journaled at its lower end in the outer end portionof a long horizontal arm 24 pivoted at its rear end to the front sidebar 12. A right-hand arm 24 is pivoted at its rear end to the crosstiemember 13. Each pressure roll 23 is journaled, at its upper end, in abearing 25 integral with the upper end of an upright member 26 integralwith the outer end of the arm 24 or 24'.

Each pressure roll 23 is yieldingly moved toward the plane of the guiderolls 21 by a coiled spring 27 anchored to the front side bar 12 andattached to the outer end portion of the respective arm 24. The springs27 extend under the plane of the rolls 15, 16 and 17 and act, when fullycompressed, as stops to limit the movements of the arms 24 toward thefront side bar 12..

Fixed to each upright member 26 is a pair of forwardly projecting springfingers 28. The fingers 28 of each pair are spaced edgewise, the oneabove the other and their outer end portions are rearwardly curved to beengaged by an endwise moving log on the rolls 15, 16 and 17 and therebymove the pressure rolls 23 out of the path of the endwise movement ofthe log. After a pressure roll 23 has been moved out of the path of alog, the respective spring 27 yieldingly holds the pressure roll 23against the inner side of the log and thus urges the outer side of thelog against the guide rolls 21.

A log on the rolls 15, 16 and 17 is moved endwise and at the same timeturned about its longitudinal axis by a pair of rotators 29. Eachrotator 29 is in the form of a disk-like wheel having fixed on itsperiphery circumferentially spaced radially projecting teeth in the formof sharp short pins 30. The rotators 29 are each fixed to a short shaft29 journaled in the outer end portion of an arm 31. Each arm 31, at itsinner end, is pivoted at 32 to a driven shaft 33 journaled in twobearings 34 that are secured to the secondary frame 14. Each bearing 34is adjustably secured to the secondary frame 14 by a bolt 35 thatextends through a slot 36 in said bearing.

The bearings 34 are adjusted to hold the shaft 33 in rearwardly spacedand nonparallel relation to the secondary frame 14, the outfeed end ofshaft 33 lying at a greater distance from the back of the frame 14 thanthe infeed end. The arms 31 extend forwardly over the main frame 11 and,since they extend perpendicularly from the angularly positioned shaft33, they slant forwardly from the secondary frame 14 toward the outfeedend of the main frame 11. Each arm 31 is formed of two parallel anglebars 37 arranged with one of their flanges upstanding and with theirother flanges turned outwardly. At each end portion of the angle bars 37a thin spacer 38 is inserted therebetween. A nut-equipped bolt 39extends through aligned holes in the upturned flanges at each endportion of the angle bars 37 and the respective spacer 38 and rigidlyhold the spacers 38 and the angle bars 37 in assembled relation.

The arms 31 hold the rotators 29 transversely oblique to a log on therolls 15, 16 a'ndli and said ro'tators while in operation fioatably reston the log as the pins 33 engage and rotate the log. When the rotators29 are not in use, they are each held raised by a lever 40. The levers4'0, at their lower end portions, are pivoted on a shaft 41 that extendslongitudinally of the frame 11; over the rolls 15 and 16 and arejournaled in bearings 42 fixed to certain of the crosstie bars 13'. Eachlever 41) extends upwardly through a slot 43 between the angle bars 37of each arm 31. A roller 44 is journaled on each lever on which therespective arm 31 rests when its rotator 29 is'held raised in aninoperative position. Each lever 49 is provided with a latch 45, as willpresently appear.

Obviously, the speed at which a log may be moved endwise on the rolls15, 16 and 17 may be varied, at will, by adjusting the bearings 34 toincrease or decrease the divergence of the shaft 33 relative to thesecondary frame 14 and hence change the transverse angle of the rotators29 to the axis of the log.

'The following described mechanism is provided for rotating the rotators29 in a direction for moving logs endwise on the rolls 15, 16 and 17 andfor turning the same downwardly against the guide rolls 21.

A long shaft 46 that extends close to the rear side bar 12 and parallelthereto is journal'ed in bearings 47 fixed to said side bar. This shaft46 is driven 'by any suitable means, not shown. A sprocket chain 43 runsover a small sprocket wheel 49, fixed to the left-hand end portion ofthe shaft 46, and a large sprocket wheel 50. This sprocket wheel 50 isfixed to the right-hand end portion of a short shaft 51 that extendstransversely over two of the crosstie, bars 13, that are closelypositioned and the short shaft 51 is jo'urnaled in bearings 52 fixed tosaid crosstie bars. A sprocket chain 53 runs over a small sprocket wheelfixed to the opposite'end portion of the shaft 51 from the sprocketwheel 50 and a large sprocket wheel 55 fixed to the left-hand endportion of a short shaft 56. This shaft 56 extends parallel to thesecondary frame Hand is journaled in bearings 57 fixed-to said frame.The shaft 56 is substantially aligned with the shaft 33 and connectedthereto by a universal joint 58.

Obviously, the sprocket wheels 49, 50, 54 and 55 atford aspeed-reduction unit.

Continuing the description of the driving connections for operating therotators 29, each is turned from the shafit 33 by a long sprocket chain59 that runs over a small sprocket wheel 60 fixed to said shaft and alike sprocket wheel 61 fixed to the opposite end of the shaft 29 fromthe respective rotator 29.

The arm 31 at the outfeed end of the frame 11 is held between a collar62 fixed to the shaft 33 and the adjacent sprocket wheel 60, from axialmovement on said shaft.

The other arm 31 is likewise held between the adjacent bearing 34 andthe sprocket wheel 60.

Referring again to the two'closely positioned crosstie bars 13 on whichthe shaft 51 is mounted, it will be noted that the overlying roll 15 istapered to extend under said shaft.

Bark is peeled from a log, while being moved endwise and turned on therolls 15, 16 and 17, by the rotators 29, by a pair of axially spacedcutters 63 between the rotators 29 and laterally spaced therefrom. Eachcutter 63 is in the form of a wide drum 64 having fixed to its peripherya plurality of circumferentially spaced radially projecting blades 65that extend obliquely completely across the drum 64.

Each cutter 63 is fixed to a short shaft 66 journaled in the outer endportion of an arm 67 like one of the arms 31. The arms 67 are pivoted onthe shaft 46 to swing in a vertical path. Each cutter 63 is rotated fromthe shaft 46 by a long sprocket chain 68 that runs over a small sprocketwheel 69 fixed to said shaft and a like 4 sprocket wheel 76 fixed to theopposite end portion of the shaft 66 from the cutter 63. Each arm 67 isheld between the adjacent bearing 47 and the sprocket wheel 69 toprevent axial movement on the shaft 46.

Each arm 67 is held raised with its cutter 63 in an inoperative positionby a lever 71 pivoted on the shaft 41 and extending upwardly through theslot 72 between angle bars 73 of the respective arm 67. A roller 74pivoted on the lever 71 supports the arm 67 when raised. A latch 75,similar to the latch 45, locks the lever 71 to the arm 67, as willpresently appear.

The depth to which the cutter blades 65 cut is controlled by anadjustable cam 7 6 at the face of each cutter 63 and pivoted to saidcutter to turn about its axis. This cam 76 is adjusted by a long screwrod 77 from a position in which its blades 65 make no out to positionsin which they make cuts of variable depths. The screw rod 77 hasthreaded engagement with a nut-acting member 78 provided with apin 79that projects. through a slot 89 in a lug 81 fixed to the periphery ofthe cam 76. I

Each rotator 29 is provided with a guard 82 fixed to its arm 31 and eachcutter 63 is provided with a guard 83 fixed to its arm 67. Each lever 40and' 71, at its upper end portion, is bent laterally to afford a handpiece 84.

The arm 31 for each rotor 29 is yieldingly pulled downwardly by a coiledspring 85 to press the pins3'0 into the log at as a purchase in movingthe log e'ndwi'se and in turning the same. Each spring 85 is anchored atone end to one of the crosstie bars 13 and attached at its other end tothe respective arm 31.

The arm 67 for each cutter 63 is yieldingly pulled downwardly by acoiled spring 86 to feed the cutter 63 to its Work. Each spring 86 isanchored atone end' to one of the crosstie bars 13 an'd attached at itsother end tothe respective arm 67.

The tension of the spring 85' is such as to exert a rn'uch greater pullon the arm 31 than that of the spring 86'. The Weight of the arms 31 and67 together With the rotors 2'9 and the cutters 63 materially assistthe's'prings 85 and 86 in feeding said rotors and cutters to their work.

The latches and 75 correspond in structure and function, and hence thedescription of one will s'ufiice for the other. As Fig. 12 is a detailof the" lever 40' and the latch 45 shown in Fig. 1, the same will bedescribed in detail.

The numeral 87' indicates a ratchet rod parallel'to the lever 44 withits upper end held in a guide 88 fixed to said lever. This ratchet rod87 is bent laterally to afford a pawl 89 that extends through a slot 90in the lever 40 and a slot 91 in a plate 92 fixed toga spacer 93 securedto the lever 40. The ratchet rod 87 at its upper end portion is bentlaterally under the hand piece 84 to afford a handle 94. A ratchet 95 isfixed to the upturned flange of one of the angle bars 37 of the arm 31.A coiled spring 96, encircling the ratchet rod 87, is compressed betweenthe guide 88 and a collar 97 fixed to the ratchet rod 37 and yieldinglyholds thefpawl 89 in one of the lock notches 98 in the ratchet 952 Whilethere are herein disclosed but a" limited number of embodiments of thestructure, process and product of the invention herein presented, it ispossible to produce still other embodiments without departing from thein ventive concept herein disclosed, audit is desired, there'- fore,that only such limitations be imposed on the appended claims as arestated herein, or required by the prior art.

What we claim is:

l. In a'rnachine of the class described, a bed including a plurality ofhorizontal laterally spaced supporting rolls, a plurality of uprightguide rolls at one side of the bed, means for pressing a log on'thehorizontal rolls toward the guide rolls, means for turning a log aboutits longitudinal axis on said horizontal rolls, said pressure meansbeing. a horizontal pivoted arm having. an upstanding roll, and a springsecured to the bed and attached to the arm for yieldingly holding thearm with its roll against the opposite side of a log from the guiderolls.

2, In a machine of the class described, a bed including a plurality ofhorizontal laterally spaced supporting rolls, a plurality of uprightguide rolls at one side of the bed, means for pressing a log on thehorizontal rolls toward the guide rolls, means for turning a log aboutits longitudinal axis on said horizontal rolls, said pressure meansbeing a horizontal pivoted arm having an upstanding roll, a springsecured to the bed and attached to the arm for yieldingly holding thearm with its roll against the opposite side of a log from the guiderolls, and an outwardly and inwardly projecting finger fixed to the armto be engaged by a log being moved endwise on the horizontal rolls tooperate the arm and move its roll out of the path of such log.

3. In a machine of the class described, means for moving a log endwiseand turning the same about its longitudinal axis, including an armpivoted at one'end portion to swing about a horizontal axis oblique tothe 1ongitudinal axis of such log, and a driven toothed wheel journaledon the outer end portion of the arm so as to rotate on a horizontal axisoblique to the horizontal axis of such log While engaging such log, saidarm having a longitudinal slot, and further including a pivoted leverextending upwardly through said slot and having a roll engaging theunder side of the arm, said lever being operable to raise and supportsaid arm and the toothed Wheel in an inoperative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,172,762, Bezner Feb. 22, 1916 1,294,275 Johnson et al. Feb. 11, 19191,373,243 Hellstrom Mar. 29, 1921 1,375,374 Fresk Apr. 19, 19211,855,577 Kirkwood Apr. 26, 1932 1,921,904 Bezner Aug. 8, 1933 1,986,707Bezner Jan. 1, 1935 1,986,708 Bezner Ian. 1, 1935 2,034,908 KirkwoodMar. 24, 1936 2,669,266 Bouchard Feb. 16, 1954

